Submitted by: Dan Rich

Della A. Collins

June 27, 1885 – Jan. 18, 1972

South Bend Tribune 8/18/1972
Mrs. Della A. Collins, 86, of 714 S. 31st St., died at 1 a.m. today in the Ridgedale Nursing Home after an illness of two months. She was born June 27, 1885, in Harlandsburg, Pa., and had lived in South Bend 31 years, moving here from Pennsylvania.

On March 12, 1902, in New Castle, Pa., as Della Shaw she was married to Aaron Collins. He died in 1964. A son, Ralph, died in 1950.

She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Mabel Leonard, with whom she lived, and Mrs. Betty Wilson, also of South Bend; five grandchildren, seven great grandchildren; and a sister, Mrs. Bertha McGary of Lafayette, Calif. Mrs. Collins was a member of the River Park United Methodist Church, the Women’s Society of Christian Service, the Fellowship Class, and the Schuyler Rebekah Lodge, Senior Citizens Club.

Friends may call from 7-9 p. m. today and from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday in the Thallemer-Goethals Funeral Home, Mishawaka, where services will be at 2 p. m. Thursday. Rev. Carl D. Lemna, pastor of the River Park Church will officiate, and burial will be in St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park.